Revolving restaurant



I 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 18, 1968 E. 1.. BAUER REVOLVING RESTAURANT Filed June 14, 1965 Fig./

I N V15 N70 R Edwin L. Bauer Q E Q HQ 8% HQ @HEEE June 18, 1968 E. L. BAUER 3,388,513

REVOLVING RESTAURANT Filed June 14, 1965 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 N 5 E '3, 1 E t 1 E J E fix: E s E g E 1 a I Edwin L. Bauer June 18, 1968 E. L. BAUER 3,388,513

REVOLVING RESTAURANT Filed June 14, 1965 '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 mgwumml IWIMLMHY mm FWIWE Fig. 4

Edwin L. Bauer [XI "IZN'IOR.

@NNNWXHLDN l June 18, 1968 E. L. BAUER 3,388,513

REVOLVING RESTAURANT Filed June 14, 1965 '7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Edwin L. Bauer June 18, 1968 E. L. BAUER 3,388,513

REVOLVING RESTAURANT Filed June 14, 1965 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Edwin L. Bauer 121 WWW 3mm June 18, 1968 E. L. BAUER 3,388,513

REVOLVING RESTAURANT Filed June 14, 1965 '7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Edwin L. Bauer IN VENTOR.

BY Q "29 June 18, 1968 E. L. BAUER 3,

REVOLVING RESTAURANT Filed June 14. 1965 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Fig. /0

i i n i Edwin L. Bauer INVENTOR.

United States Patent Ofiice 3,388,513 Patented June 18, 1968 3,388,513 REVOLVING RESTAURANT Edwin L. Bauer, Honolulu, Hawaii, assignor to William K. H. Mau, Honolulu, Hawaii Filed June 14, 1965, Ser. No. 463,842 1 Claim. (Cl. 52-65) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A restaurant disposed adjacent the uppermost story of a multi-story building and including a rotating floor disposed interiorly of a stationary peripheral wall having a substantial transparent area to enable occupants of the rotating floor to observe areas exteriorly of the wall. The multi-story building includes a fioor substantially aligned with the rotating floor with an access opening communicating the interior of the restaurant with the floor of the building which also includes a kitchen and access means. A support mechanism and drive mechanism are provided for the rotating floor.

The present invention generally relates to building structures and more particularly to a restaurant that is rotatably supported at an elevated position on top of a building such as a multi-story building to enable occupants of the restaurant to observe the space radially outwardly from the restaurant wit-h this function being obtained by the provision of transparent panels in the peripheral wall thereof so that the occupants may observe the area exteriorly of the restaurant as it rotates.

Rotatable building structures have been employed in various instances but have usually included arrangements in which the entire building rotated. This type of structure has certain inherent disadvantages which has probably re sulted in small usage of such buildings. One problem, although by no means all of the problems existent in this type of construction is the necessity of compensating for the extremely heavy loads involved and the lateral forces introduced by wind loads. Accordingly, it is one object of the present invention to provide a rotatable structure having a stationary peripheral Wall as well as a stationary roof and a stationary vertical column disposed at the center of a rotatable floor or supporttng area of a stepped configuration so that tables may be placed at a plurality of elevations thereby enabling all of the customers in the restaurant to view the space exteriorly of the peripheral wall.

Another object of the present invention is to locate the kitchen facilities and other facilities ancillary to the operation of a restaurant at a point radially outwardly of the restaurant either at the same level or at a lower level in order to enable the most eflicient utilization of the space involved and at the same time provide desirable services and quality meals.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a revolving restaurant having a novel means for supporting the rotating components so that variations in temperatures and other load variations will not cause noise or other detrimental eifects.

Still another important object of the present invention is to provide a rotating component for a restaurant having a novel mechanism for rotatably driving the rotatable component at a relatively constant slow speed with such mechanism being long lasting and substantially troublefree.

Another important object of tht present invention is to provide a revolving restaurant in accordance with the preceding objects constructed in a manner rendering the same economically feasible for use as a restaurant atop a multi-story building such as an ofiice building or the like orientated in a high density such as a downtown area, especially one having an attractive space disposed exteriorly thereof such as naturally occurring objects or even man-made objects such as a city skyline or the like.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of an upper portion of a multi-story building having the rotatable restaurant of the present invention incorporated therein;

FIGURE 2 is an end view of the construction of FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the restaurant and the associated structures on the same level as the restaurant;

FIGURE 4 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 4-4 of FIGURE 3 illustrating further structural details of the invention;

FIGURE 5 is a transverse sectional view illustrating further structural features of the restaurant and associated building structure;

FIGURE 6 is a detailed sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 6-6 of FIGURE 3 illustrating in more detail the specific structure of the rotating element and the structure for supporting the same;

FIGURE 7 is a detailed plan view of the drive mechanism for rotating the rotatable component of the revolving restaurant;

FIGURE 8 is a side elevational view of the drive mechanism of FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 9 is a plan view illustrating the mechanism for laterally stabilizing the rotatable component of the revolving restaurant;

FIGURE 10 is a detailed sectional view, on an enlarged scale illustrating further structural details of the guiding mechanism and an inner support structure for the rotatable component of the restaurant;

FIGURE 11 is a detailed sectional view illustrating the structure of the outer supporting mechanism for the rotatable component of the restaurant.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, the numeral 10 generally designates the restaurant structure which incorporates the present invention therein and which is constructed as the upper level or levels of a multi-story building generally indicated by the numeral 12. The building 12 may be of any conventional construction and as illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2, the end of the building which faces the street may be relatively narrow as compared with the side of the building as illustrated in FIGURE 1. The particular orientation of the building may vary but the site is preferably near some natural attractive location or adjacent some attractive man-made scenery or the like. Disposed radially of the circular restaurant construction 10 and disposed generally as a continuation of the building structure is a service area generally designated by the numeral 14 and disposed under the restaurant 10, an open area 16 is provided which may have guard rails or the like thereon and be used as an observation deck or the like. This also increases the esthetic qualities of the building and eliminates any possible interference with the View of the patrons of the restaurants. Further, the building 12 may have a set-back area 18 below the space 16 at least in the direction facing the most attractive view. The space 16 is defined by a central hollow building structure 20 underlying the restaurant and receiving elevators, escalators or the like for enabling access to the service area 14. Also, external Stairways 22 are provided from the space 16 upwardly for access into the restaurant structure 10.

FIGURE 3 illustrates the plan view of the upper floor 24 of the service area 14 which includes escalator structures 26 and 28 for enabling access to an entrance-way 30 leading into the restaurant 10. The entrance-way 30 may also provide access to a lounge area 32, restroom facilities. A kitcen area 34 is communicated with the restaurant through an access-way 36 that is divided from the lounge 32 and the entrance-way 30 by a suitable partition wall 38 or the like. Thus, persons may reach the restaurants by taking an elevator in the building to one of the upper floors and then taking an escalator up to the floor level 24 and then entering the restaurant through the accessway 30. In lieu of this, patrons may enter the restaurant by way of the stairways 22 and an access door 40 in the restaurant.

The restaurant 10 itself includes a central rigid and stationary hollow column 42 that is integral with the building structure 20 and includes a laterally extending peripheral top member 44 forming a closure for the column 42 and providing support elements 46 for a ceiling structure 48 which extends horizontally outwardly from the column 42 and then inclined downwardly in parallel relation to a roof structure 52 supported by a truss structure 54. The outer edge of the roof 52 inclines upwardly slightly as at 56 and is supported by a truss structure 58. A peripheral flashing 60 is provided for the roof structure 56 and the facie 62 is provided for the roof structure for providing a finished appearance. Suitable peripheral framework 64 is provided for the roof structure and the ceiling structure 48 and facie 62 are interconnected by a window frame 66 which includes vertical mullions 68 or the like for supporting a plurality of transparent window panels 70 which occupy a substantial portion of the peripheral wall of the restaurant 10.

Forming a support for the bottom of the window frame 66 is a window sill or ledge 72 supported by a depending wall portion 74 and an inwardly and downwardly inclined bottom wall 76 supported by a truss structure 78 extending radially from the building structure 20. All of the aforementioned structures are rigid and stationary and are constructed in a manner commensurate with conventional building practices as do the materials involved, the spacing of the trusses, the sealing of the roof components including a top roof panel 80, peripheral flashing 82 therefrom therefore and an upstanding facade 84 or the like to provide a finished, neat and attractive appearance to the restaurant. The particular size dimensions of the windows may vary and the overhang provided by the facie 62 protects the windows from inclimate weather and also provides a sunshade therefor in order to enable the patrons within the restaurant to observe the view without obstruction.

Disposed interiorly of the restaurant 10 is a rotatable component generally designated by numeral 86 which is in the form of a floor having a plurality of levels such as level 88, 90, 92 and 94 which are at progressively lower levels as illustrated in FIGURE 6. The different levels are interconnected by vertical wall portions 96 in each instance and are supported by suitable framing elements 98 of conventional structural components. The inner edge of the upper and inner section 88 is provided with an inner wall 100 as illustrated in FIGURE 10 that is disposed in adjacent relation to a sealing member 102 carried by a projecting portion 104 of the central column 42. The wall 100 is disposed on top of a channel iron memher 106 having the web thereof disposed vertically and in alignment with the Wall 100. The seal 102 is supported by an angle iron member 108 secured in place by an anchor 110 embedded in the concrete defining the projection 104. All of the floor sections may be concrete material or the like having suitable strength requirements as deemed necessary and having suitable framing wall bracing as required. Extending radially outwardly from the channel 106 is a plurality of radial Lbeams 112 interconnected by channel irons 114. Other radial I-bearns 116 extend outwardly from the I-beams 112 in downwardly offset relation thereto and rigidly connected thereto by spacer elements 118.

Attached to the radial I-beams 112 is an annular I-beam 120 spaced generally below the vertical wall 96 between the floor sections 88 and 90. Underlying the floor section 82 adjacent the outer edge thereof and interconnecting the radial beams 116 is a peripheral I-beam 122 and, of course, the channel 106 is peripherally continuous. The outermost floor section 94 is provided with an angle iron seal member 124 having the horizontal flange thereof disposed adjacent to but overlying the peripheral outer edge of the floor section 94 to provide a transition slip between the rotatable floor section 94 and a stationary inner wall 126 rigid with the window sill or frame.

The various floor sections 88, 90, 92 and 94 are pl'0- vided with short interconnecting steps 128 having hand rails 130 associated therewith for enabling patrons and service personnel such as Waiters, waitresses and the like to walk from and between the various sections. Any suitable material may be employed as a floor covering and the interior decoration of the restaurant may be carried out in any desired manner for providing an attractive interior construction. The difference in elevation between the floor sections in such that tables and chairs setting on the various floor sections are disposed at different elevations so that all persons disposed in the restaurant may observe the view radially outwardly of the window panel. Thus, the only structure which rotates is the rotatable component 86 consisting of the floor section and the underlying framework including the inner circular channel member 106, the outer circular I-beam 122 and the intermediate I-beam 120 used for driving the rotatable component 86 in a manner described hereinafter. The inner channel member 106 and the outer I-beam 122 are employed for supporting and guiding the rotating c0rnpomeat 36 in relation to the hollow center column 42 in a manner described hereinafter.

Referring now specifically to FIGURES 9 and 10, the guide mechanism for laterally stabilizing the rotatable component 86 is designated generally by reference numeral 132 and includes a plurality of guide rollers or wheels 134 orientated in circumferentially spaced relation about the periphery of the inner circular channel 106 which defines the inner periphery of the rotatable component 86. The rollers or wheels 134 are journalled between vertically spaced horizontally disposed plates 136 on a vertical axle 138. The plates 136 are rigidly aflixed to a base plate 140 thus defining a yoke for rotatably supporting the rollers or wheels 134. The plate 140 is secured to a plate 142 rigid with a channel-shaped member 144 which opens outwardly and is embedded in the concrete which forms the annular projection on the vertical column 42 and which forms also a part of the building structure 20. The channel-shaped members 144 are achored in the concrete 104 by anchor members 146. The orientation of the axle 1338 is adjusted by a plurality of screw-threaded elements 148 which connect the plate 140 to the plate 142. The screw-threaded elements 148 have nuts 150 thereon engaging opposite sides of the plate 140 whereby the orientation of the plate 140 may be adjusted thereby accurately positioning the axles 138 so that the rollers or wheels 134 will rotate about the desired vertically orientated rotational axis. As illustrated in FIGURE 9,

the plurality of rollers or wheels 134 engaging the inner periphery of the channel 106 will effectively position the channel 106 and thus position the rotatable component 86 and resist any lateral forces exerted by rotation of the rotatable member 86 thereby enabling the patrons to move in their normal pursuits without causing any problem due to a lateral force or load being created thereby.

FIGURE 10 illustrates an inner supporting structure 152 for the rotatable component 86 and its structure includes a generally U-shaped supporting yoke 154 supporting an axle 156 for a roller or wheel 158 which is journalled about an axis defined by the axle 156 which is inclined slightly inwardly and downwardly as illustrated in FIGURE 10. The yoke 154 includes a mounting plate 160 secured to a wedge-shaped member 162 by fastening bolts 164. The wedge-shaped member 162 is rigidly fixed to the bottom flange of the channel member 106 by welding 166 or the like. Thus, the yoke 154 is supported so that the plates defining the support for the axle 156 are slightly outwardly inclined. The periphery of the roller 158 is also slightly beveled or inclined so that the periphery thereof will track properly on an annular ring or track 168 that is supported on the upper surface of a supporting member 170 attached to the building structure by L-shaped anchor members 172. This construction enables the rotatable component 86 to rotate and be supported at its inner circumference by the rollers or wheels 158 engaging the track 168. The track 168 is provided with a plurality of openings 172 therein receiving the upper end of the anchors 172 thus accurately positioning the track 168 and the track 168 is, of course, orientated concentrically in relation to the center of rotation of the rotatable component 86 and is also orientated in a horizontally level condition by the use of shims or the like as is conventional in this type of structure.

FIGURE 11 illustrates a support for the outer peripheral portion of the rotatable component generally designated by numeral 176 which includes a downwardly opening yoke 178 having a plate 180 at the upper end thereof attached to a plate 182 rigidly fixed to the bottom flange of the circular I-beam 122. The yoke 178 supports an axle 184 that rotata-bly journals a roller or wheel 186 for rotation about an axis defined by the axle 184 which is substantially horizontally disposed and is disposed on a radius of the rotatable component 86 so that the roller or wheel 178 will rollingly engage and be supported from an annular track 188 supported by a support member 190 carried by an I-beam 192 supported from the truss structures 78 and a cantilevered concrete structure as at 194. The particular supporting mechanism stabilizes and maintains the component in the desired horizontal attitude. The specific design characteristics of the components of the restaurant including the supporting wheels, tracks and supporting beams are arrived at by conventional calculations. By determining the load of the restaurant, the number of wheels employed may be determined to limit the load on each wheel. Further, the wheels may be of conventional construction and provided with a tire of nonmetallic material to eliminate any rolling noise. Moreover, lubrication of the wheels may be provided in a conventional manner. The construction and configuration of the radial beams may vary and various facilities may be provided commensurate with accepted building procedures as to weather seals, electrical installation, heating, ventilation, air conditioning, soundproofing, plumbing facilities and the like.

For driving the rotatable component, reference is made to FIG-URES 7 and 8 in which the driving mechanism is generally designated by numeral 200 and drives the rotatable component through the I-beam 120 illustrated in FIGURE 6. The I-beam 120 is supported from the radial beams 112 and the driving structure 200 is supported on the underlying building structure and includes a supporting plate or base 202 attached to and secured in place by conventional means with the specific power requirements of the drive mechanism 200 as well as the output speed thereof being calculated to rotate the restaurant at a predetermined relatively slow speed. One of the reguirements of the driving mechanism is that the I-beam 120 be constructed concentric with the rotational axis of the rotatable component 86 with the driving structure being capable of accommodating certain variations within manufacturing tolerances of the I-beam 120 which may be constructed from a plurality of arcuate segments joined together in a conventional manner.

The drive mechanism 200 includes an electric motor 204 provided with an output shaft 206 having a flexible coupling 208 incorporated therein. The output shaft 206 extends into a gear box for changing the output power direction in that the power shaft makes a ninety degree turn for input into a gear reduction mechanism 212 of conventional construction. The gear reduction mechanism 212 includes an output shaft 214 having a sprocket gear 216 thereon in driving engagement with a sprocket chain 218. The sprocket chain 218 extends around an idler sprocket gear 220 which is slack take-up gear mounted on the supporting base in any suitable manner for movement to retain the chain 218 in a desired taut condition. The chain 218 also extends around a pair of sprocket gears 222 and 224 respectively carried by shafts 226 and 228 supported from a pair of arms 230 and 232 respectively. The upper ends of the shafts 226 and 228 have friction rollers 234 and 236 mounted thereon which engage opposite side surfaces of the vertical flange of the depending I-beam as illustrated in FIGURE 8 so that as the chain 218 is driven, the sprocket gears 222 and 224 will be rotated in opposite directions thus rotating the shaft 226 and 228 and the friction drive wheels or rollers 234 and 236 in opposite directions thereby causing rotation of the floor or rotatable component 86.

The arms 230 and 232 cross and are pivotally supported by a support member 238 with the free ends of the arms designated by numeral 240 and 242 being spaced from each other normally in receiving therethrough a tension rod 244 having a retaining nut 246 on one end thereof abutting the outer surface of one of the arms 240. The other end of the rod 244 is provided with a retaining nut 248 threaded thereon together with an abutment washer 250 engaging one end of a coil spring 252 which has the other end thereof abutting a washer 254 resting against the outer surface of the arm 242 thereby spring biasing the rollers into frictional driving engagement with the I-beam 120. The components of the drive mechanism are of conventional construction with the friction wheel 234 and 236 being of non-metallic construction thereby producing a friction drive which enables compensation for variation in inaccuracies in the I-beam 120 and also enables variations in the concentricity thereof due to temperature differential, sudden load application or sudden load release thereby producing an effective drive mechanism which is also substantially silent.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A multi-story building having a restaurant adjacent the uppermost story thereof, said restaurant comprising a stationary support structure, a stationary roof structure spaced above the support structure and generally coextensive with the roof of the multi-story building, a stationary peripheral wall interconnecting the support structure and the roof structure adjacent the peripheral edge thereof, a stationary column structure extending between the support structure and roof structure at the central portion thereof, and a rotatable floor supported on the support structure and orientated above the support structure intermediate the stationary column and stationary peripheral wall, said peripheral wall having a substantial transparent area whereby persons occupying the floor may observe objects exteriorly of the peripheral wall, said multi-story building including a floor substantially level with the rotatable floor and extending laterally therefrom, said peripheral wall having an opening therein aligned with the floor to provide access to the rotating floor through the peripheral wall, said building floor including a kitchen area and means providing access exteriorly of the building, said means for supporting the rotatable fioor including two concentric, radially spaced circular rows of rollers carried by the rotatable floor, two concentric radially spaced annular tracks carried by said support structure and supportingly engaging said rollers, each of said rows of rollers including a plurality of circumferentially spaced rollers rotatable about substantially radial axes, the innermost row of rollers rotating about axes slightly inwardly and upwardly inclined from the horizontal with the rollers in the outermost row of rollers rotating about substantially horizontal axes, guide means interposed between the stationary column and the inner periphery of said rotatable floor for retaining the floor rotatable about a stationary axis, said guide means including a plurality of circumferentially spaced rollers supported from the column for rotation about circumferentially spaced vertical axes, a depending flange on the inner periphery of the retatable floor, said rollers being in rolling engagement with said flange, said rotatable floor including a depending flange concentric with the rotational axis thereof and intermediate the spaced rows of rollers, a drive mechanism carried by said support structure and including a pair of rollers rotatably supported for rotation about spaced vertical axes, one of the rollers being disposed interiorly of the flange and engaging the inner surface thereof, the other of the rollers disposed exteriorly of the flange and engaging the exterior surface thereof, means driving said rollers, and means biasing said rollers towards each other for urging the rollers into frictional driving engagement with said flange, each of said drive rollers being independently swingably' supported, and said biasing means permitting movement of said drive rollers radially of the flange to compensate for irregularities in the construction of the flange, said rotatable floor being provided with a plurality of annular sections with the outer sections being progressively lower than the inner sections thereby enabling occupants of all of the sections of the floor to observe objects through the peripheral wall, said rotatable floor and peripheral Wall including a seal structure therebetween and the inner periphery of the rotatable floor and the stationary column including a seal structure.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,210,895 10/:1965 Graf 528 X 2,764,783 10/1956 Teller 5265 2,815,539 12/1957 Schneider 52-31 2,902,871 9/1959 Mooar 74-206 X 3,078,522 2/1963 Anderson 5265 X 3,091,815 6/1963 Krawiec 52-31 3,125,189 3/1964 Graham 52--65 FOREIGN PATENTS 397,723 8/1933 Great Britain.

H. C. SUTHERLAND, Primary Examiner.

FRANK L. ABBOTT, Examiner.

MICHAEL O. WARNECKE, Assistant Examiner. 

